X-ray protective apron



Jan. 17, 1950 n M LUBQW 2,494,664

x-RAY PROTECTIVE APRON Filed Jan. 13, 1949 INI/EN TOR M ORP/S l. UB OW ATTORNEV Patented `ian. 17, 1950 2,494,664 x-RAY PROTECTIVE ArRoN MorrisLubow, Long Beach, N. Y., assignor to Wolf X-Ray Products, Inc., NewYork, N. Y.

Application'January 13, 1949, Serial No. 70,679

4 Claims. (Cl. Z50-108) This invention relates to protective garments.More particularly it concerns aprons which protect the wearer againstthe harmful action of X-rays.

yet permitting the split portions to be detached when the apron is notin'use, thus allowing the apron to be stored in a fiat condition therebyeliminating the possibility' of cracking of the X-ray protective apronshave been made which 5 sheeting at the bent portions of the apronstrucinclude one or more sets of straps, strings or the ture. like forretaining the apron in conformed relation Still another object of thisinvention is to to the body of the wearer. In addition to the provide anX-ray protective apron which may be problem of attaching such straps orstrings to the worn with either surface exposed, which is of apron,there is also the inconvenience of tieing and simple construction, iseconomical to manufacuntieing the straps or strings. Accordingly, anture, is of pleasing appearance and yet is pracobject of this inventionis to provide an improved tical and eicent to a high degree in use.apron which is designed to be wornwithout the Other objects of thisinvention will in part be need for straps or strings to keep the apronin obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. conformed relation tothe body of the wearei` and The invention accordingly consists in thefeawhich is adapted to be applied or removed from tures of construction,combinations of elements, the body of the wearer with a minimum numberand arrangement of parts, which will be exemplie of motions. ed in theconstruction hereinafter described,

Another object of this invention is` to provide an and of which thescope of invention will be indiimproved X-ray protective apron made fromcated in the following claims. flexible sheeting loaded with heavymaterials In the accompanying drawings, in which lis which are opaque toX-rays, the apron being deshown illustrative embodiments of theinvention: signed to more uniformly distribute the weight of Fig. 1 is afront elevational view of an apron the apron as a whole relative to theshoulders of embodying the invention and being worn by the the wearer,whereby the apron may be worn with wearer; maximum comfort. Fig. 2 is arear perspective view of the apron;

A further object of this invention is to provide Fig. 3 is a frontelevational view of an apron an improved X-ray protective apron madefrom embodying the invention and illustrating a modian integral sheet ofrubber or plastic loaded with iication thereof, with the shouldercovering and heavy material opaque to X-rays, and compriswing portionsdetached from each other and ing a front body covering portion and apair of Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 back coveringportions, the last mentioned por- 0f Fig. 2. tions being adapted whenthe apron is being worn, Referring in detail to the drawings, I0 desigtocurve the front body covering portion into nates an X-ray protectiveapron embodying the closely conforming relation to the hips and thighsinvention. The same is formed from an integral as well as the frontalportions of the wearer, flexible, rubber or plastic sheeting II whichwithout the need for retaining straps or strings. is initiallycomDOlmded With materiels Which Will Yet another object of thisinvention is to prorender the sheeting opaque to X-rays, such as Vide anX-ray protective apron made from a lead, lead oxide or other suitablematerials havloaded rubber or plastic sheeting which comprises ingsimilar properties. The compounded rubber a frontal body coveringportion and a pair of latsheeting is of substantial unit weight whicherally and upwardly extending portions which varies with theproportionate amount of opaciinterconnect laterally spaced portions ofthe filing material inlOdU-Ced into tfhe Sheetupper end of the frontalbody covering portion The sheeting II is covered on either surface withopposed side edge portions of the frontal thereof with a sheet textilefabric I2, such as body covering portion to form a pair of shoulderstockinette or the like. The fabric I2 may be covering portions and apair of arm holes, the suitably adhered to the sheet II by means oflaterally and upwardly extending portions formcement or the like. ingtransversely bent or curved portions at the The composited material II,I2, is suitably cut juncture thereof with the frontal body covering topIOVde a frontal body CGVeI'iIlg DOItGn I3 0f portion, the laterally andupwardly extending generallyv rectangular shape. The portion I3 portionsbeing split transversely at their junccomprises a lower skirt portion I4and an upper ture points or at a, point intermediate the juncportion I5extending upwardly therefrom. The ture points, the adjacent splitportions being deskirt portion I4 includes a bottom edge I6 and tachablyattached when the apron is being worn vertical side edges I1'. Thedimensions of the portion I3 may be such that when the apron is worn,the bottom edge IE may be disposed below the knees of the wearer and theside edges I'I are well wrapped about the hips, thighs and legs of thewearer to aord the maximum protection against the effect of the X-rays.

The upper portion I5 comprises a pair of relatively wide shouldercovering portions I3 integral therewith and which extend upwardly fromlaterally spaced portions of the top edge thereof. The portions I8 areinterconnected at their inner side edges by the intermediate, concavelycurved neckline edge I9. Each of the portions I8 terminates in atransverse linear edge 20 with an inwardly and concavely curved outeredge 2l extending downwardly from the outer end of edge 20.

Extending outwardly and upwardly from the opposite sides of the portionI5 at the lower ends thereof and integral therewith, are a pair ofsimilar wing or shoulder blade covering portions 22. Each of theportions 22 terminates at its upper end in a transverse linear edge 23vwhich is of a width substantially equal to that of the edges 2Q onYportions I8. Each of the portions 22 comprises an outer, convexly curvededge 24 which extends downwardly from the outer end of edge 23 andmerges at its lower end with side edge Il. Each portion 22 alsocomprises an inner, concavely curved edge 25 which extends downwardlyfrom the inner end of edge 23 and merges at its lower end with the lowerend of edge ZI. The portions 22 may increase in width progressively fromthe edge 23 towards the juncture of the portion 22 with portion I5.

In forming the apron I0, each of the wing portions 22 is turned inwardlytowards the back surface of body covering portion I3, thus bringing theterminal edge 23 opposite a terminal edge 20 of a shoulder coveringportion I8. Each pair of edges 20, 23 is overlapped and secured togetherby a transverse seam 26, thus forming a pair of armholes 2'I with edges2I, 25 deiining the openings.

The peripheral edges of the body covering portion I3 as well as portionsI8, 22, may be bound with a U-shaped marginal binding 28 secured inplace by stitching 2S, to give a finished appearance to the apron.

To apply the apron, it is only necessary for the wearer to extend hisarms through the armholes 2l. The wing portions 22 willautomaticallyassume their normal shoulder blade covering position, asindicated in the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The portions 22 will not only lie ilat against the 1 back of the wearerbut will also pull on the side edges oi' the body covering portion I3 aswell as on the shoulder covering portions I8. The body covering portionI3 and the shoulder covering portions I8 will thus be closely conformedto the body of the wearer and retained in such conformed relation. Itwill be apparent that the side edge portions of the body coveringportion I3 will `be well wrapped about the hips, thighs and legs of thewearer to afford maximum protection against the harmful effects ofthe'X-rays.

It has been found that due to the surface eX- tent and weight of thewing portions 22, the frontal body covering portion I 3 and the shouldercovering portions i8 are retained closely against the body of thewearer, despite the fact that the edges 24 of portions 22 diverge fromeach other, when the apron is worn, as shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, ithas been'found that the apron IIIv will be retained in body conformingrelation a better distribution of the weight of the apron as a whole oneither side of the wearers shoulders and thusV make the apron morecomfortable to wear.

The apron may be removed readily and quickly by merely slipping the armsout of the armholes 21 and without the need for rst unfastening stringsor straps.

In the event that the outer fabric I2 becomes unduly worn, the apron asa whole may be turned inside out and worn with the inner fabric I2exposed.

In Fig. 3 is shown an apron 30 embodying the invention and illustratinga modification thereof. The apron 36 is similar to apron IB except ashereinafter described. In lieu of stitching the overlapped edges 20, 23of the portions I8, 22, the edges 20, 23 are provided with slidefastener operated closure elements 3l which may be detachablyinterconnected by means of slide fastener 32. When the apron 38 is notin use and it is desired to store the same, each pair of connectedportions I8, 22, are detached by means of slide. 32, thus allowing theportions I8, 22 to be extended and to lie. in the plane of the bodycovering portion I3, as shown in Fig. 3. The apron 30 may then be storedin a completely flat condition without danger of cracking the plastic orrubber sheeting II at the otherwise bent over portions formed by thejuncture of the wing portions 22 with the body covering portion I3 andthe bent over portion formed by the juncture of wing portions 22 withshoulder covering portionsY I8.

It is understood that the wing or shoulder blade covering portions 22may be in the form of separate members and of a material similar to thatof the body covering portion I3. In such case the portions 22 are seamedto the body portion I3.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a garment and modificationsthereof, in which the several objects of this invention Iare achievedand which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiments set forth, it isto be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent:

l. An X-ray protective apron comprising flexible, plastic sheet loadedwith heavy material opaque to X-rays, said sheet comprising a frontalbody covering portion, a pair of shoulder covering portions of the samematerial as said body covering portion extending from laterally spacedupper ends of said body covering portion andV a pair of wing portionsextending outwardly and upwardly from opposite side edges of said bodycovering portion, the terminal end of each wing portion being connectedto the free end of one of the pair of shoulder covering portionsintegral with posed flat in contact with portions of the back of thewearer, thereby curving said frontal body covering portion and saidshoulder covering portions into conformation with the body of the wearerand to retain said body and shoulder covering portions in bodyconforming condition in the absence of supplemental securing means.

2. An X-ray protective apron as set out in claim l, wherein each of saidwing portions comprises Ia convexly curved outer edge extending from theterminal edge thereof to the side edge of said body covering portionwhereby said curved edges are disposed in divergent relation to eachother at their lower ends when the apron is being worn.

3. An X-ray protective apron as set out in claim 1, wherein each pair ofwing and shoulder covering portions are detachabli7 attached to eachother.

4. An X-ray protective apron comprising a weighted exible sheet ofrubber which is opaque to X-rays, said sheet being substantiallyrectangular in shape and comprising a bottom edge, a pair of side edgesextending from said bottom edge and a concavely curved top edge portion,a

said sheet and extending therefrom on opposite sides of said curved edgeportion, each of said shoulder covering portions terminating in atransverse linear edge, a wing portion of weighted flexible rubberextending outwardly and upward- V.ily from each of the side edges ofsaid sheet at opposed points intermediate the bottom and top edges ofsaid sheet, each of said wing portions .edge of each of said wingportions being attached to the terminal edge of one of said shouldercovering portions, the width of each wing portion '.Lfincreasingprogressively from its terminal por- Number 'z tion toward its juncturewith the side edge of said Sheell MORRIS LUBOW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 2,404,225 Green July 16,1946

